Read Online Alice-Miranda in Japan 9 by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online Page A

they were serious about calling the police. I don’t think I’d like to go to prison in a foreign country.’
    â€˜As opposed to going to prison at home?’ Millie said. ‘I can see how that would be so much nicer.’
    Jacinta sighed. ‘You know what I mean.’
    Millie gave Jacinta a grin and patted her on the shoulder.
    â€˜Hello Daddy,’ called Alice-Miranda as she spotted her father coming out of a store near the end of the row.
    Hugh swivelled around to face the girls. ‘Hello darling, did you have any luck with your shopping?’
    Alice-Miranda nodded and held up her bags. ‘I got some lovely presents and so did Millie.’
    â€˜What about you, Jacinta?’ Hugh asked. He noticed that her eyes were red and she didn’t look her usual perky self.
    â€˜There was a bit of trouble,’ Millie piped up. ‘The owner of the shop accused Jacinta of stealing.’
    â€˜He did what!’
    â€˜It’s all right, Daddy. It was just a misunderstanding and we sorted it out,’ Alice-Miranda explained.
    â€˜Alice-Miranda sorted him out, that’s for sure.’ Millie shot an admiring look at her friend.
    Hugh listened to the girls’ tale. He was keen to go back and give the man and the boy a piece of his mind, but Alice-Miranda said that there was nothing to gain. At least the boy had been caught red-handed.
    â€˜I don’t think that’s quite the point,’ Hugh said. ‘I’ve heard about things like this happening in tourist areas.’
    â€˜I think they were trying to be clever,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘And the father did apologise and said that they were just having a bit of a joke.’
    â€˜It wasn’t funny,’ Millie said.
    Jacinta pouted and nodded.
    Hugh reluctantly agreed not to pursue the matter. He didn’t want to get into a row and it sounded as if Alice-Miranda had handled herself perfectly.
    Hugh glanced at his watch. It was after one. ‘Well, what about some lunch? Cecelia and Ambrosia have been caught up and won’t be able to join us, so they said they’d meet us in the city about half past two. What are we going to eat? There are plenty of restaurants along here.’ Hugh looked at the row of shops. ‘I spotted some tasty-looking eels and a couple of blowfish in one of the live tanks.’
    Jacinta and Millie pulled faces at one another.
    Hugh grinned mischievously.
    â€˜Daddy, please stop teasing. What about teppanyaki?’ Alice-Miranda asked. ‘I feel like some beef.’
    Jacinta immediately perked up. ‘Oh, yes please.’
    â€˜I’m happy with that,’ Millie agreed.
    Hugh led the girls to a restaurant he’d noticed earlier. They entered and were instantly surrounded by the tantalising smell of sizzling beef. A smiling chef in a crisp white uniform greeted the group with a bow as they took their seats around a giant barbecue plate in the centre of the room. The chef sliced some perfectly cooked meat at lightning speed and served three plates to some patrons on the other side of the counter.
    â€˜Are you happy for me to order?’ Hugh asked. ‘I was thinking some chicken and beef.’
    The girls agreed.
    â€˜Unless of course you’d like to try the blowfish?’
    Millie and Jacinta screwed up their noses.
    Alice-Miranda laughed. ‘I think that’s definitely a no.’
    Hugh placed the order then chatted with the girls about their purchases.
    â€˜Did you buy anything, Daddy?’ Alice-Miranda asked.
    â€˜Yes, but don’t tell your mother,’ he said and winked.
    Her eyes lit up. ‘Is it a present?’
    â€˜No, but I’m sure she’ll get a surprise when she sees it in my study.’ Hugh couldn’t hide his grin as he told the girls about his find: a handsomely preserved suit of sixteenth-century samurai armour, which he had arranged to have shipped home.
    â€˜Poor Shilly, can you imagine